The oldest Gen Z workers and youngest Millennials who are just entering the workforce face a steep learning curve when selecting group health coverage and are increasingly turning to apps, the internet and family for advice, according to a new report. The survey by Justworks and The Harris Poll found that the youngest workers experience…
Drug and alcohol use by employees on or off the job is a troublesome societal plague that has put many employers on the defensive. Research by the U.S. Department of Labor shows that between 10% and 20% of the nation’s workers who die on the job test positive for alcohol or other drugs. The same…
New federal guidance announced Oct. 16, 2025, could make it easier for companies to add or expand fertility support for workers without having to fold it into their major medical plans. The guidance, a new set of FAQs issued by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury, spells out how infertility benefits…
For businesses that suffer property damage, getting repairs or rebuilding completed on time and within budget is becoming an uphill battle. A mix of inflation, supply chain challenges leading to material shortages, a tight construction labor market and the inherent complexity of commercial construction have pushed costs higher and stretched timelines longer. This can leave…
A strong insurance agency depends on steady new business and high retention, but many producers lose momentum once their books reach a comfortable size. Some say they are too tied up managing existing clients to pursue meaningful growth. However, here’s the crux of that excuse: The producers who consistently bring in new accounts are…
A new survey from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is raising alarms about widespread abuse of the federal Independent Dispute Resolution process set up under the No Surprises Act. According to the findings, nearly 40% of disputes filed through the system in 2024 (the year the law…
California employers have new compliance challenges because of a law that further broadens the circumstances under which employees can take protected paid and unpaid leave. AB 406, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025, expands on last year’s revisions to the state’s paid sick and safe time and crime-victim leave laws, adding new categories of protected…
Studies have found that nine out of 10 employees opt for the same benefits every year and that around a third of workers don’t fully understand the group health plan benefits they are enrolled for. Staying in the same plan year after year can be a waste of money if someone is in the wrong…
Starting Oct. 1, 2025, any California employer that uses artificial intelligence and other automated tools in recruiting, hiring, promotion and related human resources decisions will have to ensure that the tools don’t discriminate against protected classes. The new regulations, promulgated by California’s Civil Rights Department, cover any “automated decision system” (ADS) which the rules broadly…